Tagged: Nick Franklin

Catching you up on some great photos of the Mariners Winter Caravan through Eastern Washington. Nick Franklin, Charlie Furbush and Brandon Maurer, along with broadcasters Mike Blowers and Aaron Goldsmith, and of course the Mariner Moose, have been having a great time visiting with our fans on the East side of the state.

Here are some photos taken by team photographer Ben Van Houtenfrom Whitman College in Walla Walla, the Boys and Girls club of Kootenai county in Post Falls, Idaho and also Bryan Elementary school in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho.

Mariners broadcaster Aaron Goldsmith is currently on the road in Eastern Washington with the Mariners Winter Caravan. Here is an update from the second day of the caravan’s tour through Eastern Washington…

The theme of Day 2 of the Mariners Eastern Washington Caravan was autographs.

After paying a 45 minute visit to our radio affiliate in Wenatchee (KKRT 900), it was off to two U.S. Bank locations to sign autographs and meet some fans. The quote of the day came from a gentleman at the Moses Lake autograph session who told Nick Franklin, “You look better in person than in photographs…but I’m not saying you’re attractive.”

I had to stop signing for a good couple of minutes before I stopped laughing. I think Nick took the comment pretty well.

The best moment of yesterday’s trip actually came after the day was over. We stopped at a grocery story following our final event in Moses Lake so we could get some snacks for our two hour bus ride to Couer d’Alene. Forgetting that he was still wearing his Mariners jersey from the recent autograph session, Nick casually walked into the Safeway store wearing his “Franklin #6” Mariners white uniform top.

Within a minute, we were stopped by a fan in the produce section wanting to talk baseball. Needless to say, the jersey was then quickly removed.

Day three starts in Couer d’Alene with visits to Spokane and Post Falls. Should be fun!

Mariners broadcaster Aaron Goldsmith is currently on the road in Eastern Washington with the Mariners Winter Caravan. Here is an update from his first day where they toured around the Palm Springs of Washington (aka Yakima)…

Day 1 of the Mariners caravan to Eastern Washington was really fun. First it was off to Summitview Elementary in Yakima where Nick Franklin, Dave Valle and myself talked to the entire school about setting goals, staying drug free, and studying hard in school. Of course, no matter what we said, the Moose was the most popular guy in the room.

Then it was off to KTCR 980 where the three of us recorded some liners for our local radio affiliate. Val was a pro, and Franklin was pretty impressive, too.

Our first day wrapped up at the Sun Dome where a few hundred Mariners fans joined us to talk a little baseball. After about 20 minutes of Q&A, it was time to break out the Sharpies. It was close, but I feel like Franklin was slightly more popular than me in the autograph line. He let me know about it on our ride back to the hotel.

Brad Miller and Jeff Baker of the Rangers were both All-Americans at Clemson.

Throughout the season, Mariners broadcaster Aaron Goldsmith will provide content on From the Corner of Edgar & Dave, giving a behind-the-scenes look at the Mariners players and organization. This post covers Nick Franklin batting leadoff for the first time in his MLB career, tonight’s pitching match-up between Hisashi Iwakuma and Derek Holland, and a Clemson connection.

Nick Franklin saw his name at the top of the lineup card for the first time in his Major League career Monday. “I love hitting leadoff,” Franklin said. “I’ve hit all up and down the order in my career, but feel like I’m at my best when I’m fighting off pitches and working counts.”

It will be interesting to see if Nick is leading off again Tuesday against Texas. When Franklin is seeing the ball well, he proved to be one of the more patient and effective hitters on the team. Through his first 35 games, the M’s second baseman hit .290/.350/.473. In his last 36 games Franklin is batting .177/.255/.355.

It will be up to Hisashi Iwakuma to keep the Rangers off the board Tuesday night. He’s coming off his 13th quality start of the season, holding the A’s to three runs over seven innings on August 21. Talking with Iwakuma yesterday after batting practice (through interpreter Antony Suzuki), he said he threw less sliders to the A’s in his last start and more fastballs. When asked what makes his 90 mph fastball to effective, Iwakuma said it was because of how well he hides the ball in his delivery.

Iwakuma will need to be especially stingy Tuesday. Texas starter Derek Holland has made three starts against Seattle this year and has struck out 26 batters over 19 2/3 innings while allowing just two earned runs (0.92 ERA).

There was a Clemson connection Monday night at Safeco Field. Jeff Baker was in left field for the Rangers while Brad Miller was at shortstop for the Mariners. “He was a big reason why I wanted to go to Clemson,” Miller said. With 59 career homers, Baker left Clemson as the school’s all time home run leader and was part of the Tigers 2002 College World Series team with Khalil Greene and Michael Johnson.

“All my friends wanted to play at Florida, but I knew I wanted to play at Clemson,” Brad explained. “What Baker, Khalil, and Johnson did there made me so excited to play for Clemson.”

In 2012 the Mariners nine minor league affiliated put together one of the best seasons in club history, combing for a 496-406 (.550) record. The organization led all Major League farm systems in wins (496) and winning percentage (.550), while also setting a new record for most win in a single season my any organization. Various publications have rated the Mariners farm systems as one of the best in baseball.

The Mariners looks to continue their winning ways throughout the minor leagues as well as get players ready to make the jump to the Major League level. The Mariners triple-A affiliate, the Tacoma Rainiers roster boasts four of the top five prospects in the Mariners farm system, as ranked by Baseball America. Catcher Mike Zunino (No. 1), pitchers Danny Hultzen (No. 3) and James Paxton (No. 4), and infielder Nick Franklin (No. 5) all sit atop BA’s list entering the 2013 season.

Catcher Mike Zunino is off to a hot start with Tacoma this season. In 6 games with the Rainiers, Zunino is batting .385 (10×26) with 7 runs, 3 doubles, 1 triple, 4 home runs and 17 RBI. He currently leads the Minor Leagues with 17 RBI, T1st with 8 extra-base hits, while ranking as one of only 6 players in the Minor Leagues to have hit at least 4 home runs this season. The 2012 first round draft pick ranks 2nd in the PCL in extra-base hits (8) and slugging percentage (1.038), while ranking 3rd with 27 total bases. Zunino became the first Rainiers player since second baseman Dustin Ackley (7/15/10 at Reno) to have his first triple-A hit go for a home run on April 4 at Fresno.

Danny Hultzen is 2-0 with a 2.45 ERA in 2 starts with Tacoma.

LH Danny Hultzen has earned wins in each of his first two starts with the Rainiers, going 2-0 with a 2.45 ERA (3 ER, 11.0 IP). He has limited opponents to a .167 (7×42) average, while walking 3 and striking out 14. His 14 strikeouts currently lead all Mariners farmhands, while ranking 3rd overall in the Pacific Coast League.

OF Eric Thames is one of 6 players in the PCL to hit safely in each of the first 8 games. He is currently batting .424 (14×33) with 5 runs scored, 1 double, 1 triple, 1 RBI, 1 stolen base and 4 walks. Thames ranks 11th in the league in average, and he is tied for the team lead with 4 multi-hit games.

The Rainiers open the home portion of their schedule tonight with a four-game series against the Salt Lake City Bees at Cheney Stadium. Tonight’s game starts at 7:05 p.m. PT with LH James Paxton (0-0, 4.50) making his 2nd career triple-A start and first at Cheney Stadium. Tacoma is currently 5-3 and trails Salt Lake by one game PCL Northern Division.

RHP Taijuan Walker checked in at No. 5 in MLB.com’s Top 100 Prospects.

Well, the votes are in, and five Mariners have been named to the MLB.com Top 100 Prospects List. The impressive haul of Mariners includes three players listed in the top 25 and four in the top 50. Here are the Mariners named to the Top 100 list:

RHP Taijuan Walker (#5)

LHP Danny Hultzen (#18)

C Mike Zunino (#23)

INF Nick Franklin (#47)

LHP James Paxton (#61)

And for the second consecutive season the Mariners organization received the most “Prospect Points”